Various Artists – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A Gospel Tribute 2xLPs – Used LP

New vinyl.  Opened to check for and prevent warping in 2020.  Looks good.  Ringwear (photos of actual item).   Double album.  1986 album. 

I was looking through my records to find something to listen to and list on the website today for today’s MLK Day, started with Marvin Gaye’s seminal 1971 album (that he started the year long process of creating 50 years ago...or was in more like 200 years in creation) and then came across this rarity, released in 1986 to celebrate this first year this federal holiday was recognized, featuring Aretha, Smokey, Cleveland, Banks Brothers, Clefs...I think these are performances from the first celebration (but I’ll keep it unplayed and list it on the site so someone can be the first person put this copy on a player). The holiday was introduced by both a republican senator and a Democrat from Michigan in 1979, but didn’t make it through to the Presidential signing until 1983, after years of opposition, signature gathering (6 million signatures!) and campaigning, Stevie’s song helping to gather the campaign in 1980. Reading the history of the holiday really brought back memories of 40 years ago, and it’s clear now how this campaign to get this holiday recognized really helped define and really create the mindset of Americans in the 1980s. This country has been through some bad times, in my lifetime especially at the beginning of decades, especially the beginning of the 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s, nearly hopeless and truly horrible times, but songs were written and people gathered and pushed on, something to remember as we begin this new decade. — winch